Suitable Sound Recording Levels

In order to achieve good quality audio, sound level monitoring/altering should be carried out. Sound levels too close to the noise floor (the lowest level of recording) will result in a poor quality recording with hissing and humming being quite prominent in most cases. When recording, recording as close to the Permitted Maximum Level (PML) as possible, without reaching or exceeding that limit will result in optimal recording levels. Reaching or exceeding this limit will result in distortion of the signal. This is when the levels 'peak' and results in audio 'clipping'. Modern digital audio can record very close to the peak levels without distorting, however monitoring when recording is required to avoid distortion.

When recording audio, a comfortable range for your peaks should be found (usually between -12 dB and -6 dB) before any recordings are made. A recording with peaks set lower than this (around -16 dB and below) will leave a greater amount of noise when the audio has to be boosted after to reach optimal levels. To set these levels, manual level control on the microphone of choice should be used. Automatic level setting can be used on modern microphones, however this usually leaves for the change in levels during the recording, and noise becomes more prominent during silence.

Character Sound Identification

This scene from Kill Bill shows a woman trapped inside a coffin after being 'buried alive'. The soundtrack behind the scene builds tension as she attempts to escape. Starting slow and dramatic when she realises she is trapped then building up as she begins to untie herself and start to escape. New elements get added and layered up in the soundtrack such as the addition of a trumpet melody, a marching solider style drum beat and a Mexican influenced guitar melody. The volume slowly gains as the scene progresses before coming to a loud 'climax' as she finally punches her way through the wooded container and claws her way out of the ground.

This scene works extremely well without any use of dialogue. Sound effects are used but are not as clear as the main soundtrack. This shows the power and significance of sound and music in films. 

Subtitles

Adding subtitles on youtube requires scribing as the video plays.

I simply played through the video and typed the dialogue. I then extended the subtitles on the timeline to match the length of speech.

Audio Sources and Copyright Types

Creative Commons

Creative commons allows you to share your work with no legal obligations. Make sure it is credited, meaning you credit the person who actually created the product, image etc.

Copyright

Right given to the owner/publisher to protect their media (for example music/audio, graphics/video and software) and stop others using it without their permission.

Types of copyright:

Right to copy - royalty free, creative commons (CC)

No right to copy - Copyrighted protected

Royalty Free

Royalty free is copyrighted material available to use without needing to pay royalties or license fees.

Fair Use

Fair use is using a copyrighted material for a limited purpose such as to comment, criticise or parody. These uses can be done without permission from the copyright owner. If your use qualifies as a fair use, it would not be considered an illegal infringement.

http://www.musicbed.com - Attractive, well designed website with a large amount of free and paid audio.

http://www.beatsuite.com - Simple, royalty free audio available. Music and sound FX.

http://www.eccorights.org - Copyright obtaining service. St. Lucia based.

http://www.ppluk.com - Music licensing company

http://www.beatpick.com - Music licensing company

Copyrighted Music Catalogs:

iTunes

Amazon Music

Google Music

Recce's

Walking round bath to different locations helped me understand the importance of recce's. Looking at the location and checking that it meets all the criteria needed to get the correct effect for the shots is needed.

Recce's require checking of:

• Access
• Power availability
• Safety/risks
• Sound
• Lighting
• Any other limiting factors

Visiting many locations in order to choose the correct one makes this process a lot easier than trying to imagine the locations.